Topic: CTC Review: 2008 Toyota Highlander

[wing]

I always use a wide angle, no choice really.  The dash lights are a bit out of focus... they aren't out of focus I just moved   haha.

It was dark I guess I should have used the flash for the interior.  Ah well, there is nothing to see between the seats the console is pretty plain

[carcrazy]

"... as far as content and features for the dollar the Highlander is lacking. There is nothing in the Highlander that really stands out as exceptional - perhaps a case could be made for the engine."

You hit the nail in the head.

[Benhaze]

Fearless prediction : HL sales will keep going down in Canada.  Why would a Canadian family buy this instead of a cheaper, and much more usefull Sienna ?  You could say "image", but larger SUVs are losing their shine quite fast these days.  It seems the RAV4 doesn't give away much in usefull room for the price diff.

Around Montreal, I was seeing quite a lot of 1st gen Highlanders in base trim (front-drive with the 4 cyl.), and that model was selling in the 32-33k$ range.  These buyers will probably move to the RAV4 at lease end or when trading in.

Over at Honda, the base fwd Pilot ia priced about the same as the EX Odyssey, leaving only the "image" question for the buyer.

the price has crept up to beyond what many Canadians will spend.

Santa Fe has it right.

I also agree with SirA... The Santa Fe seems more and more appealing if you don't need 7 seats (wouldn't consider one with the 3rd row seats). And if you do need 7 seats, the Veracruz appears to be a more more compelling proposition for about the same price as the base HL. I said "appears" because I haven't had the opportunity to drive the new HL or the Veracruz.

[MKII]

The  execution  of the audio-HVAC  face plate http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc_gallery/images/toyota/2008_toyota_highlander/highlander_jb_16-1997.jpg  IMO looks like some of the robot faces that I see on  the animated cartoon shows my daughter watches.  Maybe user friendly, but very ugly IMO.

[airbalancer]

The  execution  of the audio-HVAC  face plate http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc_gallery/images/toyota/2008_toyota_highlander/highlander_jb_16-1997.jpg  IMO looks like some of the robot faces that I see on  the animated cartoon shows my daughter watches.  Maybe user friendly, but very ugly IMO.

Where is the aux plug in?
Does the upper level have duel zone climate controls?

[ovr50]

Neighbour about 6 houses down the street just traded in his '01 HL for a new '08 HL Limited in a new color, a light blue metallic with grey leather interior. Has 19" alloys as part of the Limited pkg. I only had a brief look at it but looks a lot better in real life than the pictures.

I think those that say the new HL won't sell well are not right, my guess it will sell nearly as well as the old one. But who knows?

[initial_D]

The  execution  of the audio-HVAC  face plate http://www.canadiandriver.com/ctc_gallery/images/toyota/2008_toyota_highlander/highlander_jb_16-1997.jpg  IMO looks like some of the robot faces that I see on  the animated cartoon shows my daughter watches.  Maybe user friendly, but very ugly IMO.

Where is the aux plug in?
Does the upper level have duel zone climate controls?

The AUX audio input jack would be located on the center console somewhere, a better location than in the dash.

I don't think there is dual zone climate control, only one set of temperature and fan speed knobs.

[Jack B]

Great interior, but the styling is generic Toyugly

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I think those that say the new HL won't sell well are not right, my guess it will sell nearly as well as the old one. But who knows?

Local Toyota dealer here has nearly 20 of them on the lot, so they must be expecting brisk sales from someplace.

[si]

So... the American Highlander starts at $27,300 USD, with the limited going to $32,700 (a difference of $5,400)

The Canadian Highlander starts at $39,650 CAD (more than buying a limited one from the US), reaching to $50,ish - more than a 10 grand difference.

Toyota USA > Toyota Canada

[mdxtasy]

So... the American Highlander starts at $27,300 USD, with the limited going to $32,700 (a difference of $5,400)

The Canadian Highlander starts at $39,650 CAD (more than buying a limited one from the US), reaching to $50,ish - more than a 10 grand difference.

Toyota USA > Toyota Canada

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,53505.0.html

[sailor723]

Either the resellers/brokers will be getting in on the action or hungry US dealers will be sending in RDR's in the names of their cousin's,friends,neighbours and then changing the ownership info after a month or two.

[1TSX]

I saw many on a lot at a Toyota dealership in Sault St. Marie, this past weekend.

[jcon]

I saw many on a lot at a Toyota dealership in Sault St. Marie, this past weekend.

I wonder if Toyota dealerships pre-ordered a bunch anticipating a rush on sales when they were launched? Maybe they read the market wrong?

[1TSX]

I saw many on a lot at a Toyota dealership in Sault St. Marie, this past weekend.

I wonder if Toyota dealerships pre-ordered a bunch anticipating a rush on sales when they were launched? Maybe they read the market wrong?

I am not sure...maybe. But I saw one 08' dark greenish one when driving south of Sudbury, yesterday afternoon. First one I saw on the road.

[ovr50]

I saw many on a lot at a Toyota dealership in Sault St. Marie, this past weekend.

I wonder if Toyota dealerships pre-ordered a bunch anticipating a rush on sales when they were launched? Maybe they read the market wrong?

The vehicle is just barely available in dealer's hands, and you are surmissing that because they have some on the lots just received, it is not selling well? Pretty big assumption to make so early in the game...

[jcon]

The vehicle is just barely available in dealer's hands, and you are surmissing that because they have some on the lots just received, it is not selling well? Pretty big assumption to make so early in the game...

I'm not surmising anything, I'm wondering. I'm also not suggesting this vehicle won't be a hit. Previous Highlanders have sold well and I have no reason to believe this one won't as well.

I'm WONDERING whether the dealers have taken a lot of pre-orders and that these Highlanders are waiting to be picked up or whether dealers are loading up on them while they can or maybe Toyota has been building them for quite some time and have a huge inventory or whatever...

Sometimes one can wonder without drawing conclusions.

[Raf]

The vehicle is just barely available in dealer's hands, and you are surmissing that because they have some on the lots just received, it is not selling well? Pretty big assumption to make so early in the game...

I'm not surmising anything, I'm wondering. I'm also not suggesting this vehicle won't be a hit. Previous Highlanders have sold well and I have no reason to believe this one won't as well.

I'm WONDERING whether the dealers have taken a lot of pre-orders and that these Highlanders are waiting to be picked up or whether dealers are loading up on them while they can or maybe Toyota has been building them for quite some time and have a huge inventory or whatever...

Sometimes one can wonder without drawing conclusions.

I think most dealership will put the newly redesigned car in their dealership for a month or so (same case happen with tundra).. Because mostly their new car compound is full as this moment and waiting for the old stock(07 models) to go out .Eventually, the dealership  slowly ship those HL  back to their compound.  It is just for advertising as well as ran out of room at their inventory compound.

[hondacura]

On the Toyota website, "automatic door closer" is listed as standard equipment on the SR5 and Limited.  What exactly is that, and I wonder why it is not available on the Sport?

[airbalancer]

saw a pearl white one as I drove by the dealer, looks very nice

airbalancer, you've been checking out vehicles in this category, I would like to know your assessment of this one as well.

Finially went to see one, and it was very nice, driving position was excellant( did not go for a drive), room behind the seat was also good, base model did not look to bad.
But to spend $51gs on a load model , I dont know if I could.
By the way who could fit in a RAVA 4, it just felt wrong in the drivers seat